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Coolant, Overheating and Smoke oh my

9.4K views 10 replies 5 participants last post by  AllExtinct  
#1 ·
So it was a freezing rain day here sunday. So while I was driving I stopped for gas. I saw a little steam coming from the scoop but that is normal I thought as rain got in there at times. On the drive after that stop my coolant temp stayed at 203/205 which not normal since I just installed a new mishimoto radiator 4 weeks ago after the OEM one got a 7in crack in it. My temp had been at an average 185.

I get on the off ramp and come to a stop an it starts to creep up in temp. so I shut it off. I get the Coolant smell really bad which I did not smell the entire trip

I get a green light so I start it an dart for the next parking lot. I coast to a parking spot whip open the hood only to find my engine smoking and not a drop of coolant in the system. I had just check the level Saturday and I was perfectly fine.

I know it is leaking somewhere behind the turbo area which I will figure out in the next day or 2.

FINALLY TO MY QUESTION!
Even though at peak my Cobb ap only registered 214 could there be any mechanical issues from this? Possibly running with no fluid for a few miles?
 
#2 ·
214??? Hell no... Do you really think they'd leave that small of a safety factor

I'm sure there was more than a drop, once the level gets low enough and it starts to boil your temps skyrocket. I know this from experience......
 
#3 ·
Yeah the needle didn't even move I just happen to watch my Cobb AP like a hawk while I am driving. I didn't think there would be any issues but just wanted to hear others thoughts on this.
 
#5 ·
In sunny SoCal I get up around 205 on my daily commute home. Its the stop and go traffic with the turbo heat getting everything nice and toasty. To answer your question 215 isn't really an issue but the smell of coolant is something to be concerned about. When you are low on fluid you start getting steam and the temps will jump really fast.

Good luck spotting the leak
 
#6 ·
Yeah as I was adding fluid I could hear it coming out from what sounded like below the turbo area. I had the car towed home and put it in my garage. So I added fluid in it again and it held. So it looks like I need to let her run a little longer an see if it is when it heats up.

I mean it was almost completely out of fluid which scares me as it was full the day before.
 
#8 ·
I recently had a small coolant leak as well took a bit of investigating to get the source but it turned out that I didn't tighten the upper hose clamp of the coolant bypass end of the upper rad. hose. I didn't see any coolant on the ground either.
Have you inspected under the engine and looked for any wet spots. That's how I traced my leak down.
 
#9 ·
So last night after filling her back up an not seeing a leak I proceeded to let it run and just watch. After 10 minutes I saw some steady dripping from the front area. I did end up noticing it dripping from the upper hose off the engine. This hose is brand new as of 2 months ago and I check it and it was as tight as I could get it. So tonight I am going to take it off and inspect the hose and see if maybe it some how got a slice from over tightening.

So far not as bad as I was thinking... Man I was freaking out.
 
#10 ·
Pin hole leak in the upper radiator hose. Pissed me off. I got another OEM one but I will be tearing the motor apart soon so when I so I will be replacing all the hoses under the hood with known better, more resilient parts.

WORRIES ARE OVER! for now anyways lol